President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud is set to undertake an official visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in the coming days, signaling a renewed phase in the strengthening of diplomatic relations between Mogadishu and Riyadh. The visit follows a formal invitation from the Saudi leadership and comes at a moment of heightened regional realignment in the Horn of Africa and the Middle East.
Somalia’s outreach to Saudi Arabia reflects a broader strategy to consolidate partnerships with influential regional powers as it seeks to safeguard its sovereignty and political unity. In recent months, Mogadishu has increasingly aligned itself with a coalition that includes Türkiye, Qatar, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia, amid rising geopolitical tensions in the Red Sea and the Horn of Africa.
President Mohamud’s forthcoming trip builds on earlier high-level engagement. In May 2024, the Somali leader visited Saudi Arabia, where he was received by Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz. During that meeting, both sides reviewed bilateral relations and explored ways to enhance cooperation across a range of sectors, underscoring the growing strategic importance of the partnership.
The May meeting brought together senior Saudi officials, including Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, Minister of Energy; Prince Khalid bin Salman, Minister of Defense; Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Minister of Foreign Affairs; Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif, Minister of Interior; Prince Abdullah bin Bandar, Minister of the National Guard; and Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal, Minister of Sports. Also in attendance were Dr. Musaed bin Mohammed Al-Aiban, Minister of State and National Security Advisor, along with other senior officials from both governments.
Somalia has recently voiced support for Saudi Arabia’s leadership role in preserving the unity of Yemen, a stance that aligns with Riyadh’s longstanding emphasis on territorial integrity across the region. Somali officials view this position as consistent with Saudi Arabia’s parallel support for Somalia’s unity and stability at a time when the country faces renewed diplomatic challenges.
Those challenges have intensified following Israel’s recent decision to recognize Somalia’s breakaway region of Somaliland, a move that Mogadishu has strongly rejected and which has contributed to shifting alliances across the region. Against this backdrop, Somalia appears to be recalibrating its foreign policy, drawing closer to partners it views as committed to upholding international norms on sovereignty and territorial integrity.
As Somalia expands its diplomatic footprint and strengthens ties with key regional actors, the upcoming visit to Riyadh is widely seen as part of a calculated effort to anchor the country within a supportive geopolitical network, one that balances security cooperation, economic engagement, and diplomatic backing during a critical period of transition.